There are some difficult lessons many of us would have to learn for some have not yet been reconciled to the fact that God is practical, and down to earth in the instructions He gives us. All those, who with a humble heart, follow the word of God, will find out that wisdom, intelligence and foreknowledge are all wrapped up in what He commands us to do.
But those who despise His word, to follow on in the footsteps of worldly-wise men, will find out sooner or later that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. When the Bible is held in a subordinate position to what economists and soothsayers may predict and advise, then, when the carpet is pulled out from under our feet, many persons will be left holding an empty bag, much to their chagrin.
Many persons fell for what was being touted for a long time as a safe investment, with the infamous Bernie Madoff, who was interviewed on multiple occasions on business news outlets, and whose aura and advice was sought out as priceless treasure.
lo and behold, after running the now defunct Ponzi scheme for many years, and after ensnaring unwary investors, swindling them of billions in cash he finally lived up to his name, for he Made-Off with the life savings and investments of thousands upon thousands of folks, some of whom were left holding the proverbial empty bag.
The worldly wise do not, as a general rule of thumb, bring to bear, on their decisions and planning, the sacred utterances of the scriptures, for God’s word is neither consulted, nor even considered in their calculations and prognostications and thus, if, and when any unforeseeable events occur suddenly without warning, persons are left scrambling to try and figure out what to do in such and such adverse situation.
The same is true in our day, for if one were to speak to the majority of financial planners, and advisors in active practice, the overwhelming majority will not even consider the utterances of the Bible as either being relevant or of consequence to the advice they give, and thus, when Putin suddenly upends energy, and globalism as we knew it, there is a mad rush for the door, as the unforeseen becomes reality.
There is nothing worse than an angry old man with nukes, who has already lived his life, and who has nothing to lose. The world is becoming increasingly unstable, because of multiple disturbances on many different fronts, both nationally and internationally, as can be observed by perusing the daily news.
And, to add to the toxic mix is the uncertainty of whether Putin might do the unthinkable, which he very well might, if driven into a corner, and isolated. As world leaders continue to ramp up their efforts to choke off Russia, very strange developments can ensue, for rational thought can be tossed out the window in an instant, if one’s back is forced against the wall.
But financial planners seem to be oblivious of the growing threats spoken about in God’s word, that are scheduled to characterize the last days, in which we are now living. The very same attitude was true of the Antediluvians in Noah’s day, who, in spite of listening to his sermons, went right ahead with their financial plans for the future, just as if he had not spoken.
Even when they saw with their own two eyes, the unexplainable phenomena of the animals walking quietly into the ark, two by two and seven by seven, there was no change whatsoever in their planning, advice, or outlook.
With Noah’s prophecy fresh in their minds and with lower lifeforms heading into the vessel, seemingly unprovoked, the Antediluvians continued to look forward to, and plan for a brighter day. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs And Prophets pp 97] They manifested their contempt for the warning of God by doing just as they had done before the warning was given. They ate and drank, planted and built, laying their plans in reference to advantages they hoped to gain in the future.
Similarly, in our day, where there are troubles with perplexities multiplying on several different fronts, persons continue to lay their plans, with reference to profits they expect to reap in the future, and the word of God, pregnant with its prophecies and very valuable instruction, is not even considered, but is rather brow-beaten as being archaic and irrelevant.
However, God is merciful and in the current adverse situations we now find ourselves, He bids us all to consider our ways, to study, and believe His word, and thereby put in place, methods, strategies and wisdom that are based on His instructions.
The current wave of inflation and famine is taking a serious toll on millions of individuals, and the single-parent families on fixed incomes are being hit very hard by inflationary pressures, together with the increase in grocery prices, and pain at the pump.
In addition to these dire circumstances, the ongoing displacement of families, with the accompanying gentrification in many places, threatens the sanity, and livelihood of many persons, who are now living on the brink, as some are just one paycheck away from being homeless, or bankrupt.
Many are now forced to live off of credit, in order to cope with the deepening crisis, and that snare will become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, by which many will be sucked in even deeper into the abyss of financial bondage. Let no one be deceived by the soothsayers, for we will not be able to print our way out of this crisis by any means.
Thus, it may just be about time that we take a look at the word of God, to see what advice He gives for such a time as this, if haply there might be Biblical wisdom that can be applied to ease the frustrations and concerns so many are now experiencing.
In the days of Joseph, God gave ample warning that a severe famine and drought would be coming upon the land, and He bid the king of Egypt, through His prophet Joseph, to make the necessary preparation so that the inhabitants of the land would be able to weather the grievous event.
As we read and study that incident, there would be valuable lessons for us to take away, for there can, and should be adjustments made, wherever they may be warranted. Our new normal would call for a change in some cases, in the way we spend, and the way we differentiate between that which is viewed as being important, and that which is not.
As the crisis in Egypt deepened, the citizens of that land discovered that they would need to regroup, as it pertained to their daily living and they soon found themselves having to tighten their seatbelts, so as not to become casualties of the famine. Let’s read:
Genesis 41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored cows and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow.
3 And behold seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other cows upon the brink of the river.
4 And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed cows did eat up the seven well favored and fat ones. So, Pharaoh awoke.
5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.
7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind will be seven years of famine.
28 What God is about to do he is now shewing unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Thus, in lieu of the dire warning given by God, what pharaoh decides to do next will determine whether the Egyptian economy will survive or collapse, and the inhabitants thereof would live or die, depending on the course of action they will choose to pursue.
Obviously, the impending crisis upon the land would call for the exercise of wisdom, guided, not by those in the secular unbelieving world, but Joseph, who has the fear of God before his face. Similarly in our day, if things go deep south in a hurry, the wisdom that will meet the emergency would be that which is written, not that which comes from mere mortals. Let’s read:
Genesis 41:33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
The urgency of the moment would obviously call for one who exercises discretion, one who respects the word of God, and who will not turn to the financial soothsayers who would beg to differ on what God has revealed. To often in our day, the wisdom that is found in the scriptures is supplanted by that type of knowledge that is devoid of God.
Thus, as a direct result grievous errors in judgement are made with the repercussions and consequences which always accompany any such moves. Now that we are in an era of sustained turmoil and instability, the word of God, with its sacred utterances should be guiding our every move. Let’s read:
Proverbs 1: 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.
33 But whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Genesis 41:34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
The fifth part is a specific percentage of the bounty they would enjoy for the seven plenteous years. In our day we may not have fields with wheat, corn or grain, but many of us do work, and have some sort of income. Thus, after returning the tithe, offering, and something for the less fortunate, it is wise to put aside a “Fifth” for the rainy day.
The habit of spending everything that is earned is a recipe for disaster, and any person or nation that is thus disposed, is headed for a financial cliff, sooner or later. The math is simple, for if our outflows are greater than our inflows, the well will run dry. It is not rocket science, it’s just a matter of time. Let’s read:
Proverbs 6: 6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
We are not speaking of hoarding in one of those underground doomsday bunkers that are on sale. We are speaking the words of truth and soberness by the grace of God, so that the wise and discreet may make provision for the rainy day. Because, if we would receive it, is going to rain.
Now, it is true, that as earth’s crisis deepens, God has promised to provide for His people. However, His word must be studied very carefully, lest some persons inadvertently tread presumptuously. In the days of yore, God provided food miraculously for His people, because it was necessary, for they were sojourning through the wilderness for forty years.
But as soon as God’s miracles became unnecessary, the manna stopped, because God generally will not work a miracle if He does not absolutely have to. In other words, direct miracles as the manna falling from heaven are to be understood as a last resort, but if there are other resources available, those are to be utterly exhausted first. Let’s read:
Joshua 5: 11 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
[Last Day Events pp 99] Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions, for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again.
Genesis 41:47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
What goes up must inevitably come down, and even though we’ve experienced tremendous growth and prosperity as a nation, the cyclical realities of boom and bust will produce casualties, if the wisdom of God is not implemented. Dow industrials averages, Crypto, and the phenomenal rise of housing in the last few years aren’t immune to the laws of gravity.
Therefore, if ample provisions are not made for the downturn, some folks will be forced into doing what the Egyptians had to do in order to survive. At that time, they turned to their government for help, for the economic downturn was severe indeed, and lest starvation take a deadly toll, food rationing by those in authority had become the order of the day, while the famine wore on. Let’s read:
Genesis 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
Genesis 47: 13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money fails.
16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
Now that their flocks herds and livelihoods have all gone up in smoke, the government of Egypt is in a position of strength, as far as bargaining chips go, and the prospect now rises before the multitudes, that if they are to survive they will only have to sell their lands and properties to the state, but they will have to sell their own souls, in order to have bread.
A very similar situation took place in the days of Nehemiah when the Hebrew economy took a hit, and went into reverse gear. At that time, the people became so dependent on the government that their houses, their lands and their souls became tethered to the state, for they found themselves in the very unfortunate situation of having to turn to credit, or borrowing heavily, in order to survive. Let’s read:
Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses that we might buy corn because of the dearth.
4 There were also some that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Inflation is one of the results of a disparity in supply and demand, because whenever goods are in short supply, or scarce, their value ultimately goes up. We are now experiencing pain at the pump, because of supply shortages, and therefore, when we read in the Bible that there was a famine or dearth, all of the accompanying woes we are now experiencing were most likely present back then. Let’s read:
Genesis 41:18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.
19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.
During the economic downturn in Egypt which was brought about as the result of the famine the folks down there soon discovered that they had to make certain adjustments, in order to deal survive.
All of the unnecessary trimmings, bells and whistles, and the extra items they would normally pick up at the grocery stores, which they really did not need were eliminated, and a bare bones approach to the realities on the ground, drove them to have a more practical outlook on life. Indeed, it was a humbling experience for the nation.
Similarly, in our day, where families and individuals might be facing crunch time, as a result of looming layoffs, inflationary pressures and pain at the pump, we too may find ourselves having to make some of those necessary adjustments that the Egyptians had to make, for as it was in days of old, persons would discover that God is more practical, and down to earth in the instructions He gives than many realize.
Especially persons who may be cash-strapped, who may find themselves in a position similar to those in the days of Nehemiah, where the people had to rely heavily on credit, adjustments may have to be made in order to weather the deteriorating conditions on the ground for at the end of the day the greenbacks can only stretch so far, and no further.
However, on a more serious note, there is another famine of which the Bible speaks which is scheduled to take an even greater toll on persons, if the word of God isn’t heeded. This particular famine is the one that would produce barrenness in hearing the word of God, for in the days of plenty, when Biblical teaching was available, many did not see the need to avail themselves of the truth.
And as a result, the little that some persons had will evaporate into thin air, when the truth will become quite difficult to find. This is what took place with the five foolish virgins, who found themselves void of the necessary preparation, at the midnight hour.
We are in a countdown to midnight in the history of our world, and opportunities to hear and know the truth will be dwindling at an alarming rate, as forces of evil both visible and invisible, will flood the earth with errors and woes that will consume the minds of many, and as a result, the multitudes will focus on survival instead of surrender to Christ, The Only One who can deliver in these last days. Let’s read:
Amos 8: 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
[Last Day Events pp 178] Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the closing scenes of this earth's history, pattern after ancient Israel....
A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out of human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel.
This is the reason why an urgent call to the study, and practice of the truth is even more relevant in our day, for as we stand upon the brink of eternity, we will face dangers and perplexities that can cause us to lose focus on that which is most important in life.
Whatever Putin and the rest of the world may, or may not do, one thing we should ever keep in mind, is that the coming of Christ hastens greatly, and as such, we should not let survival consume our best energies to the neglect of our relationship with God for it is Christ and Christ alone that would be able to see us through the final conflict of the ages.
Let us then like Joseph, exercise discretion and the wisdom that is born from above, in managing and in balancing the temporal concerns of this life with the more important spiritual considerations, for when this is done, the anxiety of surviving inflation, and famine would be held subordinate to higher eternal interests.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that would help us to keep in mind that this world is not our home, we are just passing through, headed for a better world, and as such, the blessed hope can, and should put the turmoil we are experiencing on a personal and national level in its right perspective. Let’s read:
Romans 13: 1 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
God Bless!